Caracas Nightlife

If you would ask me what is special about "El Leon", I wouldn't know what to answer.. It's just a simple terras with white plastic tables and chairs. Just a good place to unwind with some friends and a cold beer, after a busy day. Every now and then some street performers pass by to do a little show or promote something. You can also order snacks and pizzas here. Everything you need to calmly end an evening!

Dress Code: You could go wearing a garbagebag, nobody cares what you wear there!

What makes this club different from all the other ones, is the fact that i closes EXACTLY at 12:31... at NOON! Party go-ers, get here pretty late, you pay admision to get in, with which you get a bottle of liquor (Venezuelans like to have a good drink) and kepp partying until noon. The inside is very modern, with very cool seats where you can lounge out if your feet get tired, a dancefloor with black lights, loud hip music and lots of action going on. Even if you don't want to dance, you'll have a great time watching the dancers! The music played here is mostely reggeaton and HipHop/R&B. The public varies between ages 16 (with fake id) to 25. W

Dress Code: Dress to impress!

This club called "The Flower" didn't steal it's name. Inside the club, the walls and cealing are covered in flower print. Very different! I was told this club has been in Caracas since the 70's. Guess we know where the inspiration came from hunh?! In this club you wil find couples and groups of friends mostley , 30+, which occational exceptions ofcourse. This is a good place to dance salsa, merengue, reggeaton, bachta... Great fun!

Dress Code: Doesn't really matter what you wear, it's kind of dark on the dancefloor, but ofcourse, you always want to look your best when going to a club, no?

In this bar you will find what are probably the cheapest cocktails of Caracas! Somewhat weird liquor combinations, set on fire... Impressive show around the drinks. If you want to be a little daredevil, order a "sangre del predatore"... NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!!
The bar itself isn't the fancyest place but it's pretty cosy. There is a tv hanging in there where they put on the important baseball games or the miss Venezuela elections. It's not a very safe place to go to as a tourist but if you are accompanied with Venezuelan friends, there is nothing to worry about! Except maybe drinking too much...

Dress Code: Do not wear your fancy clothes, dress down!

Go to El mirrador for a fantastic vieuw of the city by night. You will find some people there doing the same thing, probably with their cars parked behind them, all doors open and music really loud. IThere is a grass area where you can sit on. t's the ideal place for a (romantic?) night pick-nick!

I just received a tip that "El Mani" (the peanut) is a great Salsa club. The best night is Thursdays and usually has great live music -this place was apparently featured in a Venezuelan movie, and is supposed to be an old building. Atmosphere! Anyway, i´m going tomorrow night so we´ll see how it goes....

On my first night in Caracas I ventured out of the hotel and took a cab to Centro de San Ignacio. The place is like an open air mall, shops that are open during the day, and clubs/lounges that are open at night. There was a lot of security, and we never felt as though we were in any danger. Just friendly people out to have a good time.

We went to Vintage, which is on the top floor of the mall. I don't recall a cover charge to get in, and the place was very clean and trendy, with absolutely stunning girls everywhere. Granted, this was my first evening in S. America, but my friend (a female) and I were completely blown away by the girls at this club. They have great fruit drinks (with alcohol of course) at a good price, and the crowd and staff was very friendly. It seemed like there were lots of students from the local colleges. Great music, live DJ, and a solid first night on the town.

Dress Code: Just nice casual clothing. Nothing fancy, but you won't look out of place in a jacket.

Pleasing to residents and visitors, Caracas Hotels and restaurants provide an international cuisine thanks to the multi-ethnic population.
Dining out is a popular entertainment, and caraqueños enjoy a multitude of restaurants,including Spanish, French, Arab and Chinese food as well as local favorites such as Arepas, Pabellón, Mondongo and Cachapa and grilled dishes at parrilleras for a Parrillada Mixta.
You'll find recipes for some of these favorites in these Recipes from Venezuela.

Dress Code: Not for delicate appetites, these mixed grills are hard to resist
No matter where you travel in Latin America, you'll find grilled meat, carne asada, on the menu. Seafood and poultry are also grilled at parrillas, restaurants specializing in grilled foods.
Particularly popular in Argentina and Colombia, the mixed grill called Parrillada Mixta can be any combination of meats and poultry. In Brazil, the churrascaria rodizio is tremendously popular. Rather than ordering a set combination of meats, diners select from the grilled meats brought around the restaurant on large skewers. When they can eat no more, they turn their table token from the yes to the no side.

A Parrillada Mixta del Mar is a mixed seafood grill served with garlic butter or Tartar sauce.

In Argentina, the meat is often grilled at the table, and includes various cuts of steak, lamb, pork, sausages, sweetbreads, and internal organs not often found on US menus.

Some of the items used are:

falda - skirt steak
matambre - flank steak
chorizo - spicy sausage
salchicha - long, thin, slightly less spicy sausage
higado - liver
riñones - kidneys
mollejas - sweetbreads
ubre - udder
chinchulin - lower intestine
asado de tira - short rib steak
bife de costilla- T-bone steak
bife de chorizo - rib roast steak
lonjas de carne de res
lonjas de carne de cerdo
The meat is cooked in huge cuts on a spit over fire, and sections cut by the grill chef, or asador, to be finished to taste, either in the kitchen or at the diner's table on a portable grill.